How Can Custom Orthotics Improve Sports Performance?
Are you an athlete or sports lover looking to improve your performance? One of the most powerful tools that may be able to assist you is orthotic therapy. Podiatrists often use this therapy to address pain and physical restrictions that often start in the feet and travel up the rest of the body.
But how exactly may custom orthotics address pre-existing issues and set you up for long-term success? In this article we will go through what custom orthotics are, how they may affect athletics sports performance, and how the team at Midland Podiatry may be able to assist you.
For personalised advice, contact our team at Midland Podiatry today.
What Are Custom Orthotics?
Custom orthotics are inserts that slip straight into your shoes. They are an alternative to the generic orthotics available over the counter at a pharmacy, which are not tailored to an individual’s foot and specific needs.
During a session of orthotics therapy, a podiatrist undertakes a detailed analysis of a patient’s foot, including its natural structure and gait, or the way it moves during motion. This analysis may include making a plaster cast or taking digital scans. All this information is used to manufacture orthotics that best match the contours of the individual’s foot.
These orthotic inserts are made in a range of shapes, sizes and materials. Depending on the needs of the individual, they may cover the entire foot, just the heel, or the front of the foot. They may be made with soft, flexible materials with a cushioning effect, or more rigid materials that aim to provide maximum support and assist with alignment.
Do Custom Orthotics Improve Athletic Performance?
Experts agree that custom orthotics may enhance athletics or sports performance in a variety of ways. Their primary aim is to address and correct biomechanical issues in the feet and lower limbs. When these issues are resolved, athletes may be able to move more efficiently and with improved alignment between their feet and other areas of the body.
Enhanced biomechanics are crucial for a wide range of sports, from endurance sports like running to high-agility sports like basketball, soccer, and football. Without careful attention to this area of the body, the explosive movements, quick changes of direction, or excessive foot movements that these sports involve may cause issues down the track.
Ultimately, custom orthotics and orthotics therapy aim to prevent a wide range of injuries, from ankle sprains to stress fractures, and address pain and complications from conditions such as plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis. With less pain and discomfort, athletes may be able to enhance the volume and intensity of their training and improve their performance.
If these biomechanical issues are corrected and chronic pain is alleviated, athletes may maintain and enhance the volume and intensity of their training, potentially allowing for optimal performance.
The Benefits of Custom Orthotics
In more detail, below are the primary ways custom orthotics may benefit the performance of a range of athletes and sports lovers.
1. They Are Tailored To Your Needs
Custom orthotics are designed to address the specific needs and concerns of the individual. Your podiatrist will take into account the unique structure and characteristics of your foot, and provide support and correction specific to your requirements.
2. They May Improve Foot Mechanics
Custom orthotics aim to address a wide range of biomechanical issues like flat feet, high arches, overpronation, and supination. In doing so, they may assist in creating a more efficient stride and movement patterns. This may help athletes consume less energy and perform at their peak for longer periods of time.
3. They Aim to Enhance Stability and Balance
Another key result of improving an athlete’s biomechanics is an improved alignment between their feet and lower limbs. This aims to enhance stability and balance, which may be particularly helpful for sports that require jumping, landing, or quick changes in direction.
4. They May Enhance Agility and Power
Custom orthotics may also help the wearer distribute weight more evenly during movement, which may enhance their level of physical control and help them generate more power.
5. They Aim to Increase Comfort
Custom orthotics aim to target any problem areas in the foot with the right amount of cushioning and support. For athletes, this may relieve pressure during movement, prevent blisters and calluses, and increase overall comfort levels. This may allow the athlete to maintain their proper form and avoid the distraction that discomfort often creates.
6. They May Reduce The Risk of Injuries
Overall, custom orthotics may be a powerful tool for injury prevention and recovery. They aim to reduce the risk of injuries by addressing biomechanical issues, providing improved cushioning for the feet, and lowering stress and strain on the feet and surrounding areas, including other muscles, ligaments and joints. They may also help athletes return to training faster with heightened foot and ankle support.
Interested in Custom Orthotics or Orthotics Therapy?
At Midland Podiatry, we conduct a full assessment to determine what your feet may need. Our podiatrists will work to prescribe custom orthotics to best suit the unique requirements of your body, and that process all begins with your initial assessment appointment.
Using a variety of tools and techniques, our podiatrists will conduct a comprehensive biomechanical and gait analysis and will capture the structure of your feet with plaster casts. With all of these, as well as a strong understanding of your medical history and any injuries that may be affecting you, we will send our prescriptions to a leading orthotics lab. There, they will construct a device that is truly and totally made for you!
